Healthcare

Obamacare was the best option in a country that is afraid of universal health care, it’s mostly ignorance of what universal healthcare is, it’s not exactly inventing the wheel as the United States is possibly the only western country not to have it!

While there are very few countries with universal healthcare that don’t argue about the best way to fund it and what politician doesn’t want bragging rights about doing it better than the opposition, few people who have ever lived with universal healthcare would describe it as socialism or communism, that is purely an American condition.

But it’s not just the funding for healthcare and how much influence the government has, in the United States medical professionals make about three times as much money as their contemporaries world wide. And if the government were to ask any of these people to take a patient covered by some government scheme that doesn’t pay as much, they will just refuse to take those patients, this happens all the time; but it leaves people without options.

In countries that have universal healthcare the medical personal are government employees and that does come with benefits. I have family that worked for the VA in Los Angeles and the benefits are excellent. In Ireland where I am from originally we have government and insurance hospitals which do give people options. You would think most people would go for the insurance hospitals as the pay is better. But actually people like the government position as it has more security for the future.

So my question in a country where doctors make good money, what is the incentive for them to try and work for less? Is the only option to have doctors on the governments pay roll, like in the VA, who will just be happy to make a decent wage? Is the focus in medical school to just get finished, specialize and make big bucks, or can the United states really focus on medical care not just profit?

When bringing down costs for procedures, it must be considered that costs for medical professionals may also need to be adjusted

Recently I have a couple of chats with people on the different end of the political spectrum than myself. One was regarding the healthcare debate and the other was regarding women’s issues, (which is really a religious theocracy issue).

The first was with a nice guy from a southern state, he gave me his idea of the health care debate, some of the usual republican talking points. And scary tactics calling anything to do with healthcare socialism or communism or some other ism! I explained that in the healthcare debate we are not inventing universal healthcare. This has been in action in the western world for a few generations. And many countries can state it’s been quite successful. People like to not worry about what will happen in the event of an accident. Now of course different countries have different resources and some are going to be better than others. Japan has universal medicine that is heavily privately managed, so there are opportunities for business ventures in a universal healthcare system. Healthcare makes money, but when the money is only going to investors, and the patients have no say; it’s not healthcare and you are just a pawn? Anyone who grew up with universal healthcare thinks this is a no brain er. But it’s an experiment in the US and the status-quo don’t want to give away their profits or control. The southern gentleman agreed that maybe a look away from FOX News and political pundits may be needed to have a informed opinion. And this I agree with, get the true information and if you maintain your opinion on the subject at least it can be an interesting discussion.

My second conversation was a very opinionated Republican female who just decided to Obama bash. Her facts were taken from lies on right wing web sites, and if that is the only place she gets her info I’m not surprised her facts are wrong! I tried to explain that posting and quoting lies from right wing sites doesn’t make it true. There are legitimate sources to gather information and form an opinion. I countered her argument with links to different news sources disputing her lies. I didn’t think this would work, because she was never interested in the truth. Her truth already exists in her head, and the only thing she wants to hear or see will be anything to agree with her truth. The lasting argument between science (a process) and religion (a belief system), can never be won. Science looks at the world we live in and tries to explain what we see, but in order for it to be right you must prove it! Religion requires no proof, no evidence, no explanations, and no curiosity; just believe what you are told. For the curious mind this is unacceptable, science can make mistakes and then has to correct itself. Religion has no corrections and will take no critique. So my suggestion is to have freedom of religion as the founding fathers suggested, this means you are free to practice your religion, and not impose your beliefs onto anybody who doesn’t share them.

I’m a believer in universal healthcare, for all it’s faults; and no system is perfect. The choice between a waiting list and death is a no brainier.
I recently watched a British series called MI5 regarding a man infected with a airborne virus on the streets of London. They were able to look at CCTV and see people who had come into contact the the carrier and isolate them. True this program is fiction, but there is an element of fact. CCTV produced identification of the July Bombers. It also identified many of the rioters in the recent rioting around England.
I live in Los Angeles, if there was a person walking the streets here with an airborne virus what could the powers do to save us?
Well there isn’t CCTV so identifying who comes into contact with the virus would be problematic. Because its a for profit healthcare system and so many don’t have insurance. A contagious person may not seek professional medical care as its too costly. Exposing more people to the virus before isolation.
So what would or could the authorities do in the event of an outbreak on the streets.
In the beginning I don’t think we would be told anything. Depending how many and where the contaminated showed up, the hospitals would coordinate with the authorities. But without specific data on whom may have been exposed it would be like a apocalypse movie from the 80’s! We would be told to stay home and contact the authorities if we felt sick.
There was a big scare in recent years with SARS, and more recently the H1N1 or Swine flu.
It’s really only a matter of time until something visits from abroad and finds us all unprepared. When it does come how will we treat the sick? Will the ones without insurance get ready access to care, or will we see the military pitching tents in the stadium to isolate the sick. Don’t know about you but that scares the shit out of me. Will the politicians who can’t pass a budget be able to make the right choices. I remember Katrina and I wonder did we really learn???

Having lived in London, Ireland and now Los Angeles for many years, I would like to relate my experiences having used the healthcare systems in all three countries. First I must say I believe in universal healthcare, reason is a no brainer; I have lived in countries that have it; and anyone who is against it obviously has never used it!

But let’s put a few misconceptions to rest:

Politicians do not make medical decisions in universal health systems, doctors do! The difference is the funding is coming from the government and not a for profit company, which means the treatment will be paid for. Now that doesn’t mean there aren’t budgets in a universal system, there are. But denying patient care is never an option. In the states we have a for profit system that pays the doctors per every test they put through. Hence there are many tests in the states that are not needed but make money for someone. In Europe they don’t bother with needless tests, and the government pays less. Also doctors in the States make on average twice as much as any other doctor on the planet. This is because the charges are then sent the the insurance member as higher premiums, the consumer has no say in the matter. With no competition and no accountability prices for medical care in the states have skyrocketed and the care remains about 37th place world wide.

So it’s 1990 and I am living in Ireland, I get sick and need to go to the doctor. Although we have both an insurance system and a national health system I have no insurance. So I go to my doctor, pay him £16 ($20) in cash for the visit. I get a course of antibiotics which cost me about £30. Total is £46 and this is without insurance, never needed permission from anyone. The reason there was a charge is I was working and could afford to pay. If on the other hand I had cancer and required lots of medication, the medication would have been free. Even today there is a maximum that you pay every month, about €90. If you need more than that the government will pick up the tab.

No system is perfect, and governments will always wrestle with costs. But in the end when society excepts the medical care is part of the services you get from paying taxes. It just free’s you up, knowing your medical is there is comforting.
To think that many people in the USA (working people) don’t have access to healthcare because the insurance system says no; is just amazing!
In the civilized countries, where government has a obligation to look after it’s people; to look at the American healthcare system Is to look at society that just doesn’t give a shit! Cares more about profit than people. I will never understand that kind of society. It seems that pure unrestrained capitalism can be just as bad for the average citizen as communism run amok!
Ok so I am a bit passionate about this. I just think in a civilized society, I pay taxes, I would like some comfort in knowing society has my back.
In the states my taxes pay for bureaucracy, police, fire, military.
Not much has been upgraded on infrastructure in years. Maybe the USA is going the way of Rome, it was taxes to pay for the military in a crumbling society that killed Rome!
Sounds familiar!

So I have always been wary of the for profit medical system in the USA. It’s not that I have anything against doctors making a living. Doctors do quite well through most of the planet & quite deservedly!
So let’s talk about the differences in the systems!
There are lies told about universal healthcare that need to be put right! I grew up in Europe before moving to the states so I have a fair grasp of the differences.
First let me say that neither system is perfect, but the difference is mostly on how much things cost & who decides.
There is the fear that universal healthcare is government healthcare. This statement is true but very deceptive. The government has mandated that it will provide tax funds to make sure every citizen has medical care available.
Does this mean a politician makes medical decisions; of course not!
All the politicians do is argue over funding. And if the ones in power aren’t doing it right; the opposition party will be happy to point out the issues!
Now does this mean doctors can do whatever they want? Not really, hospital administrator’s will decide how to best to get the job done within the budget; but they will get the job done!
The doctor works for the hospital or has a private practice. As to pay doctors make about half the wage in Europe as they do in the USA! But to be honest I don’t see too many doctors in either system complaining they get badly paid!
In Ireland as in many countries you also have insurance systems in place! This gives people who pay another option for healthcare. Both systems function quite well side by side. And it makes for healthy competition. Most people are surprised to find that doctors prefer the government hospitals because being government it’s more secure, better pensions!
The for profit healthcare system in the USA was originally designed to provide healthcare for all Americans. But it didn’t quite work out that way. In the original idea funds would be provided to give people who couldn’t afford to pay insurance premiums assistance.
What happened was a system that ran amuck!
Because the doctors were open to frivolous law suits they needed to charge more to pay for insurance. As the system paid per test the doctors started unnecessary testing to make more money. The insurance companies need to increase premiums to make a profit!
I am not sure when the insurance companies decided to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Or simply because the patients care became too expensive.
Without competition the healthcare for profit has no incentive to improve! As long as all the parties are taking their cut no improvements are required.
In government funded healthcare there is always the vote, and the opposition party, and the press to make the people in charge improve the care given. Considering the USA is approximately 37th in the western countries. Behind many universal healthcare systems. I think it needs to make changes and stop the fear talk! Japan has a universal healthcare system that is 80% privately funded! Profits can be made in both systems. What is needed is for health professionals to take a decent wage for their services! And for competition in the systems to provide incentives for improvement!
Of course this is just my opinion, and I have nothing against either systems!
I believe when you pay taxes you should get something for it!

Plato said that a society can be judged by how it treats its elderly and sick!
How are we doing?